The horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has ignited widespread outrage. Initially mischaracterised as a suicide, the case has now become a major focal point for public outcry, with increasing demands for justice. Amidst this call for accountability, Zoom reached out to actress Mumtaz Sorcar to find out what she had to say about the harrowing incident and her views on women safety in India.
Speaking exclusively, Mumtaz said, “I don’t want to sound rude or silly but it feels like the same story in a different book. Injustice is injustice. Crimes against women seem to be a hot favourite nowadays. The RG Kar incident has come up to us with a bang and we are all standing by the victim, her parents and the medical fraternity with full solidarity and support. However, it makes me question if I have not seen or heard similar kind of incidents elsewhere. Similar corruption, similar perversion hiding behind different names , faces and situations.”
According to Mumtaz, the problem is at the very root. “Every time some heinous crime is committed against women we have voiced our disgust and have pleaded for women’s safety and respect. In some cases we have been successful in making few changes but in most the cause was lost by the time justice of any kind was achieved. This time around, if justice is actually served, we will set an example. It all depends on that final verdict by the court of law.”
Also Read: RG Kar Rape Case: Raima Sen ‘Horrified At Barbaric Crime’, Champions Safe Environment For Women- EXCLUSIVE
However, Mumtaz is not wholly convinced. “The whole thing can either create history or become a dark joke on humanity.”
According to Mumtaz, protection should be given to women in every field, not only healthcare. “There should be a separate judiciary body for women in every work space, in every field looking over the interests of women — a body in which the members, deciding heads should be changed yearly, so that corruption in that body can also be checked to an extent,” she opined, adding, “Such bodies need to be active and connected to the supreme judiciary system for quick and easy movement.”
Not only that, the actress champions capital punishment and says that “People should be scared of the law”
“People should know that if they are caught there is no way out. That fright is possible only if there are severe implications and punishments. Raising better children and correcting people and ourselves at large are obvious but slow methods. We need drastic changes now and drastic changes demand drastic measures.”
The current scenario in Bengal, however, has left Mumtaz a little disillusioned. “I feel sad and heartbroken to say that I feel like I live in ‘Waste Bengal’ and not ‘West Bengal’.
According to the actress, “With every crime, with every scam, every incident I think that we have hit the extreme of corruption, but sadly we often get surprised by a bigger corruption.”
“There is a saying in Bangla… “jeii ashey lankae sheii hoy Raavan” (Whoever comes to Lanka, becomes a Raavan). How many Raavans do we have to face before everything is finished?Will it ever end? Will we see or hope to see a better tomorrow? I don’t know…. I wish someone gave me the answers to these questions and helped me sleep better at night. But having said that I must say that I saw a ray of light on August 14 night when thousands of women along with men came together to support and protest against the injustice and corruption… a sight I thought I would never see in this self- engrossed society.”
Mumtaz, however, decides to end on a positive note, “Humanity still lives, empathy still lives, I hope this divine fire keeps burning within us and burns brighter with every passing day.”
Mumtaz Sorcar's film Putul recently premiered at Cannes 2024, where it received a standing ovation.